Hidden Bars and Unusual Places in London

This underground venue in the Soho district occupies a decommissioned Tube station and recreates the setting of 1940s wartime London. Cahoots serves cocktails in period containers while the interior features original tiles, platform benches and signage that evoke the era of London air raid shelters. Access is through a narrow stairway leading down to the former platform areas, where guests sit in vintage railway carriage compartments. The venue maintains its theme through period music, costumed staff and authentic wartime memorabilia throughout the space.

The Opium bar occupies a residential apartment in London's Chinatown district, offering cocktails that blend Asian and European culinary influences in an intimate setting. Access is through a concealed entrance that keeps the venue hidden from casual passersby. The drinks menu draws on spices, herbs and ingredients from both continents, while the interior recalls the speakeasy tradition of the Prohibition era. Reservations are recommended, as the limited capacity fills quickly.

This Victorian pub in Notting Hill has served locals and visitors since the 19th century and ranks among the neighborhood's most recognizable establishments. The exterior features year-round floral displays covering the facade, while the interior contains memorabilia and photographs dedicated to Winston Churchill, whose grandparents were regular patrons. The rear section houses a Thai restaurant that has operated here since the 1980s, creating an unexpected pairing with the traditional pub setting. Low ceilings and dark wood paneling reflect the Victorian construction, while close seating arrangements create a convivial atmosphere during busy evenings.

The Mayor of Scaredy Cat Town is a basement bar accessed by walking through a SMEG refrigerator in the Breakfast Club restaurant above. The concept draws from Prohibition-era speakeasies, with a hidden doorway that adds a playful element to the experience. The bar serves classic and contemporary cocktails in a compact space with low lighting and a relaxed atmosphere that deliberately sets itself apart from typical London bar scenes.

This Victorian-themed establishment draws on the fictional journey of Phileas Fogg from Jules Verne's novel, presenting furnishings and decor from the 19th century. The collection of historical artifacts and curiosities complements the literary concept, while experienced bartenders prepare creative cocktails with thematic references to circumnavigation. The multiple rooms and floors offer different settings, from the book-lined library to the tropically inspired conservatory. Mr. Fogg stands among London's unusual drinking venues that go beyond ordinary pub experiences.

Callooh Callay is an established cocktail bar in Shoreditch that divides its space into several distinct areas. The ground floor houses a public bar with traditional fixtures, while a concealed private lounge lies behind what appears to be an antique wardrobe. Access is granted on request when the wardrobe swings aside to reveal the entrance. This hidden section offers lower lighting, upholstered seating and a quieter setting than the main room. The bar serves both standard cocktails and house creations, and has drawn a mixed crowd of locals and visitors for years.

This original cocktail concept invites guests to bring their own spirits while a professional mixologist creates custom drinks according to personal preferences. The mixing follows professional standards using fresh ingredients and specialized techniques. BYOC offers personalized service in a relaxed setting, where customers maintain control over their beverage choices while benefiting from expert guidance. An alternative to conventional London bars, this establishment appeals to both connoisseurs and those willing to experiment with new combinations. The approach combines the economy of bringing your own bottle with the expertise of trained bartenders.

The Attendant operates in a former Victorian public lavatory near Oxford Street, preserving the original ceramic tiles and sections of historic plumbing as architectural features within the café space. The conversion of this subterranean 19th-century facility maintains visible connections to its utilitarian past while serving coffee and light meals. This establishment represents a direct example of adaptive reuse, where the infrastructure of Victorian London meets contemporary café culture. Visitors can observe the preserved bathroom fixtures that have been integrated into the seating and service areas, providing an unusual perspective on urban history and the transformation of public spaces across different eras.

This restaurant and bar occupies the fortieth floor of Heron Tower and serves modern British cuisine around the clock. Duck & Waffle offers views across the British capital from its elevated position, combining dining with bar service in a space that operates continuously. The location at this height provides a wide perspective over London, making it a notable point among the city's dining establishments.

This six hundred fifty foot office tower built in 2011 stands in the financial district of the City and houses forty-six floors containing not only corporate workspaces but also restaurants and retail areas that make the complex a well-frequented destination in London's business core. The architecture follows contemporary standards for high-rise buildings and integrates publicly accessible spaces on lower and upper floors, establishing the structure as a prominent point in the district's skyline. The location sits centrally in an area with dense development and solid connections to public transport networks.

The Little Scarlet Door is a hidden establishment accessed through a small red door in Soho, specializing in custom cocktails made to order. The name describes the narrow entrance leading visitors into the compact space with eclectic furnishings, where bartenders craft individual drinks based on guest preferences. The discreet location and personalized approach make this bar a characteristic example of London's hidden drinking venues that rely on word of mouth and a willingness to search for the entrance.

This gallery bar in Hackney combines a cocktail lounge with a museum of curiosities and rare artifacts. The space is filled with anatomical specimens, Victorian medical instruments and natural history displays collected from various periods. The bar serves a selection of classic and contemporary cocktails while visitors can browse among glass cases containing taxidermied animals, occult objects and scientific rarities. The interior features dark wood paneling and low lighting that creates a theatrical setting. The Last Tuesday Society regularly hosts cultural events including lectures, performances and themed exhibitions exploring death, the history of science and Victorian traditions.

Barrio Shoreditch is a Mexican establishment in this London neighborhood serving creative cocktails and local beers in a lively setting. The bar attracts a young crowd drawn to the mix of Latin American flavors and British craft brews. Resident DJs spin music several nights a week, providing a soundtrack to the evening. The drinks menu features tequila-based creations and mezcal variations mixed at the central bar. The interior combines industrial elements with colorful details reminiscent of Mexican cantinas.

Four Quarters combines a bar with a gaming hall filled with authentic arcade machines from past decades. The selection includes craft beers and classic cocktails, while guests play on dozens of functioning arcade cabinets from the 1980s and 1990s. The venue spans multiple rooms with different gaming areas, featuring classics such as Pac-Man, Street Fighter and Donkey Kong. The concept targets adults looking to blend nostalgia with a relaxed evening out. Drinks can be consumed while playing, and the bar maintains a rotating selection of local beers. The space operates on a coin-based system for the machines, with tokens available for purchase at the bar.

This ice bar near Regent Street is built entirely from ice and maintained at a constant five degrees below zero Fahrenheit (minus five degrees Celsius). Visitors receive thermal clothing before entering and can drink from glasses carved from ice. The space undergoes periodic redesigns by Scandinavian artists who sculpt the walls, furniture and sculptures from imported ice blocks. Sessions last approximately forty minutes, and reservations are recommended due to limited capacity.

ABQ recreates the world of the Breaking Bad television series, welcoming guests into a scientific laboratory setting. Visitors participate in the interactive preparation of molecular cocktails served with pipettes, beakers and chemical equipment. The interior features stainless steel surfaces, industrial lighting and thematic elements from the show. The concept combines entertainment with mixology, with staff working in white lab coats and presenting drinks as scientific experiments. Located in Shoreditch, this bar attracts fans of the series and visitors exploring alternative drinking spots in London.

Gordon's Wine Bar occupies 17th-century vaulted cellars near the Thames and ranks among London's oldest wine bars in continuous operation since 1890. The subterranean space features stone walls, wooden barrel tables and candlelight, creating an environment that has remained largely unchanged for over a century. The menu focuses on wines from across Europe, along with cheese and charcuterie boards served on wooden platters. Seating accommodates roughly 120 guests across two underground levels, with an additional outdoor terrace open during warmer months beneath stone arches. The wine list includes more than 300 selections, spanning ports, sherries and seasonal offerings.

Alcotraz is an immersive cocktail bar that recreates an American prison setting. Visitors receive inmate jumpsuits and consume their drinks in reconstructed cells while actors in guard uniforms maintain the prison theme. The bar fits into London's collection of unusual drinking establishments that offer themed experiences beyond standard beverage service. Guests can bring their own spirits, which are then incorporated into the cocktails. The setting combines theater with mixology, creating an interactive experience that differs from traditional bars.

This London tearoom combines hospitality with visual presentation in a way that attracts those seeking photogenic experiences. Saint Aymes serves hot beverages topped with genuine gold leaf, a practice that sets it apart from conventional cafés. The handmade pastries and floral arrangements complement the space, decorated in pink and gold tones. The concept appeals primarily to visitors who value presentation and are willing to pay for this kind of experience. The setting is deliberately designed with social media in mind, making it a stop for those exploring the city's more theatrical drinking and dining venues.

The Queen Of Hoxton spans multiple floors and offers bar spaces, event rooms and a rooftop terrace with views over Shoreditch. The top level changes its design with the seasons and has been transformed into winter lodges, tropical gardens and film set recreations. Inside the building, rooms guide visitors through different decades of pop culture from the 1970s to the present. The program includes live music, DJ sets and film screenings. Its location on Curtain Road makes the venue a starting point for exploring Shoreditch, an area with numerous alternative bars and nightlife spots. The terrace operates weather permitting and draws crowds particularly on warm evenings.

This London club combines cocktail service with an unusual play concept. Ballie Ballerson features multiple pits filled with hundreds of thousands of colored plastic balls, while LED lighting bathes the space in changing hues. The bar serves classic and creative cocktails in a setting that resembles an oversized adult playground. The venue attracts a young crowd seeking an alternative to traditional bars, with DJ sessions and themed events on weekends.

This cocktail bar in Shoreditch occupies the basement of a former textile workshop and is entered through a fake storefront at street level. Guests pass through the false shop before descending into the underground space, which retains elements of the building's industrial past. The bar serves classic and contemporary cocktails in a setting that references the area's garment-making history. The concept reflects Shoreditch's transformation from a center of textile production to a well-known nightlife district.

This Victoria tearoom specializes in artistic milk foam creations and beverages colored with food dyes, served alongside thick Japanese pancakes. The focus lies in combining latte art with colorful drinks that stand apart from typical London cafés. The establishment attracts visitors looking for unconventional presentations and the fluffy texture of Japanese soufflé pancakes. Its central Victoria location makes it a practical stop after exploring Westminster or before heading to other parts of the city.

The Looking Glass Cocktail Club combines a public bar area in Shoreditch with a private lounge accessed through a mechanism behind a two-way mirror in the main room. The venue uses this concealed element to control entry to a separate space. Guests find a selection of cocktails in a setting that deliberately emphasizes the hidden concept, placing it within the tradition of concealed bars that have become characteristic of the neighborhood.

The Cauldron offers an interactive experience where guests prepare their own cocktails using wands and wear wizard robes during their visit. Located in Hackney, this themed venue combines mixology with fantasy elements, inviting visitors to participate in special events where they create their own drinks. The establishment features decor inspired by magical themes and includes various stations for cocktail preparation. Reservations are recommended as space is limited and experiences run in timed sessions throughout the day. The venue caters to groups looking for something different from standard London bars.

This Shoreditch establishment accommodates no more than twelve guests at a time within its compact quarters, fostering a sense of familiarity between visitors and bartenders. The Umbrella Workshop focuses on handcrafted cocktails and original drink preparations served in a personal setting. The limited capacity means each guest receives individual attention and naturally connects with other patrons and the team behind the bar. The small scale makes reservations practically essential, particularly on weekends.

Fuckoffee in Bethnal Green stands out among London's hidden and unconventional venues with its mismatched furniture and offbeat interior. This café offers drinks such as banana iced coffee and various fruit preparations. The establishment represents the city's alternative café culture, where creative beverage menus and nonconformist design choices attract those seeking something different from standard coffee shops in the neighborhood.

Host Cafe operates inside Saint Mary Aldermary Church, a 17th-century building designed by Christopher Wren. The cafe serves coffee from roasters across the London area and offers visitors the chance to take a break within a historic church interior featuring vaulted ceilings and classical architecture. The combination of religious heritage and contemporary cafe culture creates an unusual setting for a coffee stop in the heart of the City of London.

Sacred Grounds in Soho serves coffee and pastries in a distinctive setting, with the only private garden among cafés in the neighborhood. This establishment combines standard urban café offerings with an outdoor space that is rarely found in this densely built section of London. Visitors can choose between the indoor area and the garden space, which provides a sheltered retreat from the busy streets of Soho. The café operates as a daytime venue, offering typical coffee shop fare in an environment that differs from the surrounding establishments.

Starfish Loves Coffee serves Australian brunch fare in Palmers Green, a residential neighborhood in north London. This café features dishes such as crushed oats and beef brisket benedict on the menu. The establishment includes a prosecco tap, an uncommon fixture in a breakfast venue. The offering combines Australian-style brunch culture with local British preferences. Its location outside central London makes this spot an option for visitors exploring neighborhoods beyond the usual tourist circuits.

The Luggage Room operates in the former baggage storage area of the Marriott Hotel in Mayfair, requiring a password for entry upon arrival. The interior references the space's original function with vintage suitcases and low lighting that create a discreet setting. The cocktail menu focuses on classic mixed drinks with contemporary variations, prepared by trained bartenders. Access comes through a separate entrance away from the main lobby, and guests need both advance reservations and the current password, provided through the website or when booking. The limited capacity ensures quiet service without the crowds found at larger establishments in the area.

Algerian Coffee Stores in Soho, founded in 1887, stands as one of London's oldest coffee roasters, offering espresso for £1 and cappuccino for £1.20. The shop stocks around eighty varieties of coffee beans from around the world and has attracted connoisseurs and enthusiasts for over a century who appreciate traditionally roasted coffee at accessible prices.

Bar Italia is a long-standing Soho café that has operated continuously for 75 years, maintaining round-the-clock service seven days a week. The establishment has become a fixture of the neighborhood, drawing night owls, artists and locals across generations. The original location on Frith Street retains its classic Italian bar character, with authentic espresso and traditional décor. In addition to its historic site, Bar Italia has opened a location within Outernet London, a contemporary immersive art space near Leicester Square. This newer venue combines the café's traditional approach with digital art installations, extending its reach to visitors exploring the area's modern entertainment offerings while preserving the straightforward Italian coffee bar model that has sustained the business for decades.

This coffee shop and micro-roastery in Hackney Wick operates under the direction of its female owner, who sources beans directly from small farms across different countries. Bad Coffee focuses on carefully selected purchasing and on-site small-batch roasting. The establishment provides a relaxed setting for coffee enthusiasts who value origin and quality. This venue fits well into a tour of alternative gathering spots in London's eastern neighborhoods.

News & Coffee operates two coffee shops housed in converted Victorian newspaper kiosks in King's Cross and Holborn. The owners roast their own beans and have preserved the historic structures while fitting them out as fully functioning cafés. Both locations serve espresso-based drinks and light food in compact spaces that once sold newspapers and tobacco. The concept merges London street architecture with artisan coffee culture, turning urban relics into working gathering spots.

Barts occupies a Chelsea apartment and recreates the aesthetics of American Prohibition through period furnishings, low lighting and a concealed floor hatch entrance. The bar serves classic cocktails from the 1920s alongside contemporary interpretations, prepared with attention to historical recipes and techniques. Guests descend through the hidden entrance into a space designed to evoke the era of speakeasies, where discretion and craft were essential. The setting includes vintage details and dark wood that reflect the clandestine nature of drinking establishments during that period.

Saint Mary Aldermary is a City of London church rebuilt by Christopher Wren in Gothic style after the Great Fire of 1666. Its crypt now houses the Host Cafe, a distinctive venue that combines historic architecture with a relaxed coffee shop setting. The cafe occupies the vaulted stone chambers of the crypt, offering visitors a chance to drink coffee and work in an unusual environment. The church itself is a noteworthy example of Wren's interpretation of Gothic architecture, standing in contrast to his predominantly classical designs.

This digital arts center in Soho presents interactive video installations on massive screens and houses the new Bar Italia in its contemporary spaces. Outernet combines publicly accessible media art with urban gathering spots, offering visitors complimentary multimedia experiences in a centrally located thoroughfare. The facility spans multiple floors featuring LED walls that display continuously rotating artistic and commercial content. The concept aims to merge traditional advertising spaces with cultural offerings, creating a new type of public meeting area.

Evans & Peel Detective Agency operates behind the facade of a fictional private detective office in Earl's Court, requiring guests to book ahead and present a case before accessing the bar. Once inside, visitors find a speakeasy serving craft cocktails in a setting that recreates the atmosphere of a 1920s investigation office, complete with period furnishings and role-playing staff who maintain the detective theme throughout the experience.

The Vault at Milroy's combines the appeal of a hidden speakeasy with a serious whisky collection in the heart of Soho. This bar sits behind a wall of bottles in a spirits shop and offers access to Scottish single malts and Japanese whiskies presented by knowledgeable bartenders. The small, confidential setting provides a quiet counterpoint to the busy street life outside. Guests can sample both classic and rare bottlings, accompanied by informed explanations about origin and production.

The Oriole operates within the vaulted stone cellars of Smithfield, a district with roots in medieval livestock trading. This members-only venue combines live music performances with a cocktail program that draws on both classic recipes and contemporary techniques. Access requires membership or a personal invitation, with most attendees consisting of regulars and their guests. The 19th-century brick arches provide natural acoustics suited to jazz groups and small ensembles. The bar menu features seasonal ingredients alongside spirits sourced from independent distilleries across Britain and Europe.